I took my 14' Aire and remained upright, but I took conservative lines. Other boats on our trip, both 14' and 16', flipped. Luck of the draw - flips just kind of happen down there, usually very quickly! The smaller boats are definitely easier to flip back over when it does happen.

I preferred the comfort level of rowing my own boat over a bigger boat with which I was not familiar. But on the other hand, it would be kind of nice to have everything there waiting for you too with a rent-a-boat. It was a long haul from Oregon, let alone New York!

Have a 14 ft sotar fully geared and was planning a 21 day trip down the grand from Nov to Dec., My question is will my 14 ft sotar handle the big volume or should I look into renting a 18 ft raft.

You own a SOTAR!--why would you want to row some giant rental raft? I've been on trips that have included 14' rafts, 13' rafts, Super Duper Pumas, Super Pumas, and even canoes. Nobody ever said they wished they were rowing an 18' monster instead.

On both of my recent trips we've had a 13.5 foot Miwok SB in the party. One flip on the two trips (in the new improved Hance Rapid). Take your Sotar, make sure that your gear is well tied, and it'll be fine.